Carlisle City boss Jim Nichols admitted to being bitterly disappointed at the 2-1 defeat against Newton Aycliffe.
After leading at half-time the Cumbrians were pegged back early in the second half and then conceded the winner with virtually the last kick of the match.
“I thought it was a game we deserved to win but it’s the way things are going for us at the moment.
“In the 88th minute a clearing header struck someone’s shoulder and fell at the feet of their centre forward who scored the winner.
“I thought we were much the better side in the first half and deservedly in front. They had offered no real threat and we were comfortable.
“We had made one or two chances as well but it had all been promising.
“Unfortunately we conceded the equaliser from a set piece, which we work a lot on defending, and a mistake cost us.
“But I still thought we didn’t look in any real danger and could nick it. Unfortunately we conceded late on and that made it harder to take, especially as we had matched a third in the table side.
“What we do is continue to work hard to put this blip behind us. We have lost the last two when I thought we deserved to win at least one, maybe both.
“I am sure things will turn for us and we will be able to put another unbeaten run together.”
To add to City’s woes they had lynchpin defender Dan Kirkup sent off.
“Dan took a blow on the back of the head and reacted, and was shown a straight red.
“We felt that two of our players Callum Birdsall and Sam Atkinson were on the end of two dangerous tackles and the referee only produced yellow cards,” said Nichols.
Birdsall had put City in front on 38 minutes with Newton Aycliffe levelling eight minutes into the second half.
They scored the winner two minutes from the end and Kirkup was sent off in the 90th minute.
